(NAFB.com) – On the heels of one of the warmest summers on record, AccuWeather long-range experts are forecasting a mild winter with above-average temperatures in three dozen states. The U.S. recently had its warmest winter season on record last December through February, and much of the country will see mild temps again. “We will likely have a weak La Niña for most of this winter,” says Long-Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok. “We expect the storm track to dive south into California this winter, which can result in periods of mild air moving across the Central and Eastern U.S. at times.” However, with a weak signal of La Niña, some cold can push into the Midwest and Northeast. Based on data from previous winters with a similar setup, Pastelok says February is the likely month for the polar vortex to usher in a blast of bitterly cold air across the eastern U.S.